1. Human Resource Information Software (HRIS)

Human Resource Information Software (HRIS) is technological assistance for Human Resource Management groups. The software allows the repository of data in a centralized manner which in effect increases efficiency and reduces workload. They are effective in establishing compliance and insight. The effective Human Capital Management is best achieved through HRIS.
Almost all organisations deploy the software for their database and management due to the effective cost reduction it causes. There are HRIS for small and medium sized enterprises to large scale businesses. Organizational changes, paper based requests, flexibility for workers can be managed with efficiency through HRIS. HRIS certifications are also available nowadays that can be used for validating your acquaintance with HRIS & to include in your human resources resume.

2. Applicant Tracking Systems

Considering the number of applicants who apply for jobs, most HR management teams use ATS to track down candidates, match their data from the CVs with the organization’s database and shortlist the suitable candidates for further processing according to the job requirements. The ATS increases hiring standards and paces the process. With upcoming possibilities to integrate ATS with the HRIS system, information isolation could be avoided thereby making the process easier and reducing workload.

3. Cloud Technology

It is integral for HR professionals to be able to operate cloud platform ATS or any other HR software. The availability of cloud platform assists in inter-department data transfers and communication by HR professionals. The consistency of relevant information can be acquired by the performance metrics and other cloud practices. It further increases mobility of data availing it at any place and time. HR professionals must be efficient and active with google drive Dropbox, Backblaze, Carbonite and any other cloud platform for data backups. Your human resources resume must have these technical skills as they are of much relevance today.

4. Talent Management Software (TMS) and L&D software

A TMS assists HR professionals to recognize and retain talent. The talent acquisition that is so often dependent upon the hiring can be achieved with TMS driven data over a long period of time. Depending upon the performance evaluation recorded, career goals of employees, general feedback allows HR professionals to strategize promotions, training etc.

L&D software is used for employee training. It ensures continuous learning with comprehensive analytic tools that are incorporated into the company’s software. These together help to maintain employee performance up to the required standards.

5. Gamification Techniques

Gamification techniques are behavior motivated techniques. In HR, gamification techniques and mechanism are useful in many cases such as talent acquisition, training, development, networking and knowledge building. Some challenging engagement such as that in games and related activities improves the work culture, environment, and teamwork. It encourages collaborations amongst employees, promotes learning and development and also helps in onboarding new hires. There are particularly useful in incentivizing employers for top candidates for rewards and recognition. Listing this skill can make your human resources resume stand out from other candidates.

6. Social Media Handling

Social Media Platforms are excellent for hiring, identifying potential candidates, promoting recruitment notifications etc. In fact, social media handles can bring forth candidates with the required skill set for a hard to fit the position. Such promotional engagement can boost the processes and improve your organization’s position.
So as long as the HR professional is acquainted with the legal implications and ethics, social media handle should be the ideal place for initiating interaction and checking the history of a potential candidate.

7. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products Suite

A rather implicit necessity in most job situations, the effective knowledge of the Microsoft tools and products, be it Excel, Word, PowerPoint, is a must for an HR professional. For the transfer of data to individual departments in a manner that is both comprehensive and presentable, the office tools become rather necessary. Proficient knowledge of Microsoft office products can account for quality talent management by the HR professional.

8. Payroll Software

There are various payroll software that can be used however for HR professionals the effective understanding of a singular payroll software that is scalable, comprehensive and manageable, shall be sufficient. They reduce costs, reduces paperwork thereby maintaining the reporting efficiency. HR professionals must attain this technical knowledge for dealing with their work. Knowledge of payroll software is a must have in your human resources resume.

9. Mining Online Database

It is essential that HR professionals engage in an extensive search to find suitable candidates who suit the vacancies of the company and are willing to take up the position. This form of search can be best acquired by internet mining and that in itself is the requirement for improved sourcing and analytics.
Data mining in itself is also necessary for HR professionals to include in their human resources resume. It is essential for the purpose of extraction of data for organising events, management, economic data, event employee based data and more general employee data. All this is essential for retention, performance, recruitment etc.

Read about Other Top Skills & Functions of Human Resources Management on this article here

Check out these HR Certifications that would be valuable to every HR Aspirant & Professional

• Certified Learning and Development (L&D) Manager
• Certified Training and Development Manager
• Certified Train the Trainer
• Certified Human Resources Manager
• Certified Gender Equality Awareness Professional
• Certified Compensation and Benefits Manager
• Certificate in POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment)
• Certified Corporate Social Responsibility Professional

The post Top HR Technical Skills To Learn & Include in your Resume appeared first on Vskills Blog.

1. Employee Relations
   Efficient and productive work emerges when employers and employees are in synchrony. The ability to recognise the respective concerns of both sides and carry out a resolution that taken in account the best interest of the organisation is the work of the HR. Responding to conflicts, disputes and unraveling disagreements are necessary skills to acquire.
2. Human Resource Information Software (HRIS)
   HRIS also referred as HRMS is a software that assists Human Resource management group by providing employee data in a centralised manner. The software records the HR processes and engagements digitally thereby increasing efficiency. The softwares may vary for individual organisations but are more or less the same. You must acquire experience with the software to understand its role in the job.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration
   HR deal with recruitment and it is expected of them to hire candidates who would situate themselves in the teams as collaborative members. HR is also responsible to bring the focus on growth than the monotonous checklist of their regular workload. Leadership qualities and better management makes HR professionals more work oriented in their decisions about the interest of the firm.
4. Customer Service
   Human resources functions requires that HR professionals must be adept in their management skills and public dealings. It is their job to handle complaints, mediate between service providers and their receivers. For HR aspirants it would be of use to gather experience in volunteering, engagement with customers and problem solving.
5. Onboarding
   HR professionals must recruit employees who can immediately take over work in an effective manner. Such ‘onboarding’ tendency increases productivity and efficiency in work. It also reduces training time period and costs.
6. Effective Communication
   Human resources functions requires HR professionals to interact with individuals, customers, clients, unions, large audiences frequently. The delivery of their ideas,views etc. in an effective manner that maintains a clarity of thought and vision is one of the most important skills in demand. Better communication skills also require keen listening skills. It affects their decision making, employee relations and their overall performance.
7.  Compensations
   HR representatives are responsible to deal with the concerns of their employees in case there occurs a need for compensation due to illness, injury or any other reason. The legal process must be retained by the HR. They need to know how to process these compensations while effectively communicating the situation to the manger. All in all they must develop a structured method to deal with such occurrences for and immediate response.
8. Training and Development
   Training and development programmes lie within the overall performance management duties. HR professionals are expected to conduct interactive training sessions that would enhance performance and also contribute to the firm’s work and engagements. Such development programmes require the HR to have organisational skills and presentation skills.
9. Budgeting Skills
   The compensation and benefits, training development etc. are conducted for each department of the organisation and thus the repository of the budgets for these activities come from each individual department. HR professionals participate in the budgeting and planning of these arrangements and their key role is to mitigate costs and avoid wasteful expenditures.
10. Business insight
    All the decisions and actions that the HR undertakes for the enterprise needs to demonstrate their insightful business oriented bend of mind. Human resources functions requires a need to be aware of the ways in which each department works, their respective priorities, motives, issues etc.They also need insight on the staffing and their influence on the overall work that is brought forth.
11. Technological Aptitude
    Data analytics, virtual reality adaptation in HR and other technological information is expected of the HR to showcase.HR management has started to incorporate softwares in their processes and it is necessary that and aspirant is updated with these changes. A tech savvy attitude in the workplace has an upper hand in the market. Statistics, data, analysis, presentation are all factors that can be channelized through the electronic medium and HR professionals who can bring forth this quality are certainly preferred for the job.
12. Performance Evaluation
    HR is responsible to balance between the employees and  management. The performance evaluation processes bridges the gap between the management and employees regarding the ongoing developments in the work and the individual input of each employee in that work. It also highlights the problems that may emerge and the eventual actions that need to be undertaken to respond to those problems.
13. Decision Making Skills
    Human resources functions also includes recruiting candidates for the specific departments. To evaluate whether a candidate would fit the requirement takes judgement, experience and intuition. Great decision making skills assist in such situations. Crisis management, downsizing etc. are occurrences that demand firm decisions that are undertaken in the overall interest of the organisation. Building this skill would be of immense value to HR aspirants.
14. Scheduling
    HR professionals juggle between tasks and schedule the activities, programmes and interactions for the firm on a weekly, monthly and annual period. From multi step projects to strategic organisation are all incorporated in the task. It is a detail oriented task that is most demanded by the companies.
15. Organisational Skills
    HR takes the responsibility of recruitment, appraisals, development plans, employe relations etc. and they ensure that each process undergoes its course in a systematic manner. There entails a degree of strategy, planning an organisational skills to carry out such tasks. Thus organisational skills are one of the most in demand skills that HR aspirants must acquire.
16. Multi Tasking
    Human resources functions involves frequent dealing with recruitment, leaves, complaints, employees personal issues etc. simultaneously. The decisions need to be taken quickly and the companies benefits are to be maintained. All in all mult-itasking is a way of handling such a job. That is why it is one of the most crucial skills to be mastered by HR  aspirants.

Check out these HR Certifications that would be valuable to every HR Aspirant & Professional

• Certified Learning and Development (L&D) Manager
• Certified Training and Development Manager
• Certified Train the Trainer
• Certified Human Resources Manager
• Certified Gender Equality Awareness Professional
• Certified Compensation and Benefits Manager
• Certified Sexual Harassment Awareness Professional
• Certified Corporate Social Responsibility Professional

The post Human Resources Functions | Skills All HR Aspirants Should Master appeared first on Vskills Blog.

4 Compelling Reasons for Becoming An Autodidact in the Modern Era

The term E-learning is generally linked with the concept of self-learning and self-teaching. We have surpassed the era of class-room learning and have taken a leap towards self-learning methodology of developing necessary skills which is officially taken by the process of E-learning. We have encountered a collective societal evolution where it is crucial to be self-taught more than ever.

The 4 key reasons why everyone should engage in the process of e-learning (self-learning and self teaching)

First Reason: High Costs of Learning

It has become really difficult to manage and dwell into an education system (whether it is schooling or graduation) with such high costs that one has to really mint money in order to have a lucrative future. There is an unwritten social norm that has been followed from long – “We go to school, graduate, get a nice and secure job.” This is generally the cultural narrative. But what is not talked about is the number of people that go to colleges for “worthless degrees” with a handful of student loan debt and little hope for a secure future.

So in order to change the modus operandi of the process of developing skills the concept of e-learning has germinated which has proved to be feasible and has reduced the burden of endless debts.

Second Reason: Develop Patience

The process of learning is not an overnight venture that can be taken up and completed on the spot. It takes time to internalize information and penetrate it through our system. We live in world where there is instant fulfillment, such that the results are expected to deliver on the spot. But the process of learning should be respected and thereby help in developing patience. Thereby creating a phase where the process to explore and establish patience for better learning.

Third Reason: Encourages Self-Expertise

When you see no back-up and someone cracking the whip behind you to run, it then becomes your burden to learn what you have to learn. There is a lot of sacrifice discipline, and planning that one has to go through in any form of personal or professional development. The process of e-learning proves to be a great method that encourages developing self-expertise and boosting the process of self-exploration.

Fourth Reason: Extra Edge

It is often seen people learn what they are expected to learn in school and end of it. Then follows a sugar coated fantasy that a degree from a renounced institution will do it all and set your life forever. Primarily what we learn in college is not applicable professionally and becomes obsolete over a period of time. Therefore we cannot rely on outdated information and the world of tomorrow belongs to those who learn and internalize information at a deep level faster than their peers. So in order to get ahead of the job market competition and getting further ahead in your career it is important to learn and evolve quickly through the mode of e-learning.

No better way to learn than practice on your own is the mantra for getting the edge over others.

The post 4 Important Reasons for taking E-Learning | Why Become an Autodidact appeared first on Vskills Blog.

Law is the system of rules enforced to govern behavior of individual and organizations. Law as an profession has been from time immemorial and has gained prominence due to increased globalization and consumerization.

Legal expert Harish Malhotra, Senior Advocate, in interview with Ms. Tanisha Kohli, Intern, VSkills, list his experience and suggestions for students and professionals, to shine in legal domain.

Please tell our readers something about yourself
Harish Malhotra is a Senior Advocate.

What inspired you to choose a career in Law ?

According to me it is a very noble profession, and I can be of help to society for protecting their legal rights.

What were your professional qualifications and how did it help to get a job in legal domain ?

I was a Bsc when I decided to do law. It is a professional course and I developed interest in the same, and now I am a senior advocate, which is the highest you can attain in the profession.

What courses do you recommend to students and professionals who want to pursue Law as a profession ?

If one is doing BCom, then it is good because it makes the base. You do mercantile law, contract act, and so you have a base. Nevertheless, I was a science student and law is a very vast field and whenever you choose to study it, you come to know everything.

Is studying at a top institution essential to make a career in Law ?

According to me, if one is serious in studies, it depends upon oneself. No doubt that top institutions do count, but it doesn’t mean that other institutions do not count. I have seen many persons coming from ordinary institutes but proving to be very good lawyers, and people coming from top institutions who are not equally good. In the end it depends on the person, and whether he is sincere, hardworking, honest in the profession or not.

What are the books / websites / online courses that you would recommend to freshers in your profession ?

Earlier, we used to refer to books, but nowadays software’s are available which make it easier. Law is a professional course, and not an academic one. In professional, you get the case law, and while reading the case you understand. The degree of law gives you an aptitude for thinking in legal terms, rest is by practice.

According to you, which area of specialization  in Law has the most promising future ?

There are various fields now. Civil law is the toughest. A civil lawyer can do all fields but if you are in another specialised field, then you will not fit in too much in civil. So according to me civil is the best.

In your experience, what are the common qualities and skills that you have identified in successful professionals in Law ?

Those who read their brief properly, and tell me in short form that this is what the case is about, it really helps me to do the case in the court.

What challenges have you faced in the course of your career and how did you overcome them ?

Even now we face challenges everyday. Unless you face the challenge, you cannot progress, and you must always have the aptitude to learn everyday. Sometimes even a young lawyer can teach you a point which has never struck you, so therefore you should not feel shy in adopting the same. So learning process is very important in the profession.

What is the most satisfying and enjoyable aspect of your job ?

Winning a difficult case and when you get the relief to your client. That should be your spirit, and unless you work on this, you will never be successful.

What is the dividing line between an average professional in Law and an excellent one ?

Excellent lawyer thinks of the results and not of the money. An average lawyer is always after money, and therefore he does not come up to the point.

What is your advice to aspiring professionals who want to build career in Law?

He should first come and work hard in the profession, without bothering about what he is earning. Once he is thorough in the profession, money will always follow him. Therefore, one should be dedicated to the profession. And I will repeat, sincerity and honesty to the profession is the most important thing.

Test your Legal skills at – http://www.vskills.in/practice/skills/Legal

Interview conducted by Tanisha Kohli, who is a first year student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She is currently pursuing political science honours, and is an ambitious young woman who is fascinated by the legal profession and hopes to make her mark in the same. She was the recipient of The Chander Ajwani Memorial Award for Excellence Perfection, and Good Human Values in 2015, and enjoys reading and photography.

The post Interview with Senior Advocate – HARISH MALHOTRA appeared first on Vskills Blog.

Law is a very popular career choice in any country and certainly one of the most respected profession with a wide range of career possibilities. Legal education in India has undergone a plethora of change in the last twenty years. Since the establishment of first national law school in Bangalore in 1989, at least twenty more National Law Schools have sprung up all over the country. Almost all the law graduates from National Law Universities have been placed in prestigious law firms and corporate houses.

Law is an attractive profession with lots of money and wide scope but it requires a good amount of hard work with no shortcuts. To become a successful lawyer one must possess good oratory skills and a strong command of language. Lawyers are required to communicate effectively on the negotiation table so as to convince the judge on his/her side. A career in law is not only limited to courts but various corporate houses, law firms, administrative and judicial firms are open for a very lucrative legal career .

Following are the career prospects for a law graduate & a legal practitioner:

1. Litigation: A litigating lawyer hears out the case, drafts it for the client and either by himself/herself or assisted with a team, fights the case in a court of law or tribunal. Also, there has been a trend towards specializing in areas like Intellectual property Lawyers, Tax Lawyers, Arbitrary Lawyers and Constitutional Lawyers.
   To practice law in the court one should enroll with State Central Bar Council as per provisions contained in the Advocates Act, 1961. S/he is also required to qualify the Bar Council of India examination. An application for admission as an advocate is made in a prescribed form to the State Bar Council within the jurisdiction the applicant proposes to practice.
2. Indian Legal Service: There is also an option of legal service in Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Council in Legislative Department. Law officers and legal advisors are appointed in almost all the ministries/department/undertakings of the government of India and state Government.
   All these posts are generally filled up by law graduates who have to qualify the Union Public Service Commission or State Public Service Commission examination.
3. Besides legal advisors; members of law commission, government advocates, public prosecutors, solicitors, Attorney General of India, legal secretaries in assemblies, judicial members in CAT, sales tax, income tax excise and other tribunals are also appointed as per the guidelines. They are also recruited as commission officers in the legal branches in Indian Army, Navy and Air force to conduct court martial proceedings.
4. In the judiciary, lowest judicial cadre posts of magistrate or sub judge are filled by those who hold a law degree and qualify the public service examination or otherwise under the guidelines of the High Court. They can further be promoted to district and sessions judge and further as a judge of High Court or Supreme Court subject to their seniority.
5. Teaching & Writing:There is a wide scope for law graduates to become professors and guest lecturers in prestigious universities. If s/he have a flair for writing and are capable of understanding the intricate details of any case they can write reports, journals, books and thesis.
6. Legal journalism is also in vogue these days. Additionally you can also become counselors, work with NGOs, international organizations like the United Nations and its agencies as well.
7. Law firms: It is usually a joint organization between lawyers who have come together to offer their expertise to clients under one name. Working at a law firm involves dealing with a wide variety of problems that may or may not be restricted to a particular area of the law. There are many benefits of working in a law firm as it involves a very high salary; large, diverse client base; extensive firm resources; luxurious offices; global perspective; prestige and networking opportunities.

Fields of Specialization in law are :

1. Civil/Criminal Law
2. Constitutional Law
3. Administrative Law
4. Human Rights Law
5. Family Law
6. Taxation
7. Corporate Law
8. Business Law
9. International Law
10. Labour Law
11. Real Estate Law
12. Intellectual property /Patent Law

Law Preparation & Entrances

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most coveted law entrance exam for law aspirants. It is conducted every year by a National Law University (NLU) and admissions are given for Bachelor of Law (LLB) five-year integrated law programmes including BA LLB, B.Com LLB and B.Sc LLB.
Another way is to go for a LLB after graduation, which is a traditional 3 year long degree and can be pursued after any Bachelors degree.
Students can prepare for law entrance exams right from class 11^th or 12^th standard. At present there are 15 National Law Universities throughout the country under CLAT, which are listed below :

1. National Law School India University, Bengaluru (NLSIU)
2. National Academy of Legal Study and Research, Hyderabad (NALSAR)
3. National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (NUJS)
4. National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU)
5. National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ)
6. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU)
7. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU)
8. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU)
9. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL)
10. Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU)
11. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS)
12. National Law University, Odisha (NLUO)
13. National University of Study 6 Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL)
14. National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA)
15. National Law University, Delhi (NLUD) conducts its own paper AILET.

Other than these some universities conduct their own papers. Some of them are:-

1. Symbiosis Law School
2. IP University
3. Amity University
4. UPES Dehradun
5. Aligarh Muslim University
6. Jamia Milia Islamia College

Govt. certifications in various domains for law professionals are also available at vskills.
Some of the recommended certifications are : Business law, Contract law, Labour Law, Intellectual property rights

CLAT is the Common Law Admission Test conducted by the 14 participating NLUs in the order of their year of establishment. The paper comprises 200 objective type questions over 5 sections. Time given is 2 hours and a good score ensuring your place in top Law Schools is in the range of 155+. The subjects tested under CLAT are:-

• English
• Legal Knowledge
• Logical Reasoning
• Maths
• General Knowledge

Skills required for qualifying the exam are:-

• Basic English – knowledge of grammar, a good grasp over vocabulary and word usage, quick reading and comprehension.
• Application of concept for Legal and Logical – basic knowledge of deductive reasoning and syllogistic application
• Clear and lucid thinking.
• A thorough knowledge of current affairs and trivia; heads of states/ organisation, basic Indian history/ economics/ geography/ civics.
• A basic grasp of basic legal trivia; legal terms, political science.
• Speed calculation; a very basic grasp of arithmetic and probability.

Free practice tests for CLAT are available here at Vskills site.

After getting into a university one should not sit down. Most of the National Law Schools offer 50 subjects over a span of 5 years and a law student has to clear all 50 subjects to get their degree, hence life in a law school is quiet rigorous. Co-curricular activities include moot-court competitions, debating, legal aid, journal work, working for the in-house law societies such as constitutional law society, international law society etc. Students are also encouraged to publish the papers in the legal journals. Such publications acts as an added bonus to the CV of law students. All these activities also help in getting scholarships, fellowships, endowments and other opportunities for further studies from national and international academic institutions and Universities. Undergraduates are also encouraged to do some internship from the 1st year itself as they get a firsthand experience of working in a real world.

Written by
Haya Wakil
Vskills intern
Lady Shri Ram College,DU

The post Career in Law : What are the job prospects and how to start preparing? appeared first on Vskills Blog.